“What’s up?” demanded Ben.
“That fellow—I’ve seen him before. I think—Ah, I have it! Wait a minute!”
Gilbert wheeled around and made after the man, and caught him by the shoulder.
“Wait a minute,” said he, in Russian. “Don’t you remember me?”
“Remember you?” stammered the man. “I—I——”
“I am Gilbert Pennington, of the Richmond Importing Company. You are Nicholas Vanskynov, the clerk who used to work for Ivan Snokoff.”
“Oh!” The clerk drew a long breath and grew pale. “Do not—do not expose me, sire!” he pleaded. “The Japanese—they will kill me!”
“What are you doing here?”
“I was working here, sire. After I left Port Arthur I got a position with the coal company whose mines are to the east of this town. On my word of honor, sire, I have had nothing to do with the war!”
“I believe you, Vanskynov. Now that the Japanese are in possession, what do you intend to do?”